Looking back through my photos from this week, I couldn’t help but notice how many different activities keep the children busy outside. Strangely, the bike riding, tennis playing and general running around photos are missing, but they happen too. The weeding and planting happen too, just too busy to remember the camera.
There are plenty of nooks around the garden. I often find one of the children reading quietly. In this case, while they wait for me to plant out the cabbages.
I’ve set up a drawing table in the garden this week. Over the picket fence is the salad garden. Fenced to stop the dogs harvesting the garden produce too soon. There are flowers too. It makes an inspiring view.
Its proving popular as an after school place to draw and paint.
I’m wondering if I could run a cable out there and put my sewing machine on the table. I could happily stitch away, listening to the birds tweeting.
This time last week, we also went to one of our favourite country shows – the Bath and West. A favourite area is the livestock sheds. Each member of the family has a different animal that they want to visit. Unsurprisingly, my favourites are the sheep and alpacas. I like to talk to the experts and learn more. Discussing the length of the staples, as I consider it for spinning or felting. Over the years the family have learnt subtle ways to move me on. They think I don’t realise.
I dream of having a small flock of sheep in the orchard. Still deciding on the breed. I like sheep. This year, even the rest of the family had to agree that the sheep show was really good entertainment. If you haven’t caught it yet, I can recommend it. Never before have I seen dancing sheep.
Fortunately this year, the weather was good and we didn’t need the welly boots.
This week, we fitted in a trip to Old Wardour castle. A lovely castle to explore. There are steps to the second floor. It’s not the first time we have been here, but the children had forgotten.
Just the most wonderful place to explore and play hide-and-seek. I’m going to guess that they are not the first children to be inspired to play among its walls.
We do spend a lot of time outside at this time of year. An eclectic collection of photos that show some of the outdoor fun and pastimes in the garden. So often a dog in attendance. This is the pup. She’s still working on regal. Unlike the older one, featured on Wednesday in #AlphabetPhoto, but still a good outdoor companion.
Linking up with #CountryKids, over at the inspiring Fiona at Coombe Mill. Are you joining in?
Oh, I want the outdoor painting table 🙂 Love it! You’ve had a great week, the show sounds brilliant, and that castle is beautiful. Loved your Alphabet photo 🙂 #CountryKids
I can recommend the painting table it has been popular. I’m hoping to move it around the garden over the summer. Looking back at our castle photos, I get the feeling that I saw “dramatic” and the children saw “fun”. Their energy knows no bounds. 🙂
We were at the Bath and West too! Love that show. Did you enjoy the sheep show? Made me giggle! Love the idea of a painting table- if only I could paint. Here’s to more fine weather! #countrykids
The sheep show was hysterical. He is going to be a hit, if he’s not one already. I hope he’s doing all the country shows. Yes, here’s to more good weather! 🙂
You have sewing machine! That’s my dream and sewing outside would be awesome! I also love the idea of painting outside. I have supplies and I am always hiding inside the house, Ill put a table out and do this! colors looks better outside too =) #countrykids
I’m so glad I set the painting table up. It really is popular. (Resisting the temptation to use it as a potting up table for my seedlings. Third set of robins are nesting in my potting shed.) I hope you take your art outdoors. Quite free-ing. I often take hand sewing outside, so I can be with the children or just to enjoy the good light and fresh air. 🙂
Thîs is lovely, especially live the wellie photo. We’ve been spending lots of time outdoors this year
They are looking particularly clean at the moment. Usual state is muddy and strewn across the floor. I needed to take the photo to prove to myself that sometimes they are tidy. 🙂
A week of lovely outdoor fun and activities. Your garden looks so idyllic and peaceful, a place to while a way a read or enjoy sketching and painting as your daughter does. Love the idea of sheep dancing – I’m sure that is very entertaining. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
When the children are at full voice 😕 , I’m not sure our neighbours would agree with the peaceful description. 😉 If you get a chance to see the dancing sheep, I would recommend it. Brilliant. Maybe I should get out more but I’ve not seen a show like it.
Am loving your pictures!! That flower is stunning. I would love to sit and read on that bench, perfect place.
And the painting table is such a good idea!
The bench is one of my favourite places to read. In this nice weather, I can work out there too. Nice start to the day.
It does look like you have a lot of outside. i like the painting table and that castle looks fantastic to explore. #CountryKids
I suspect the children would never come in, given the choice. Lots of fun to be outside.
Oh those pencils crayons…Love them and the outdoor table. Hmmm might have to pretend our weather is a whole lot better than it is and do something arty outdoors this week… thanks for the inspiration!!!
They are watercolour pencils and she loves them. There is something about a tin of pencils that is inspiring in its own right. Hope you get outside to do a bit of art.
I love that table in the garden!
Not sure why I’ve not put one out there before. It works well.
What a lovely reading companion. I think that we need some stronger fences to keep the dog out of our flower borders! But she is just doing her job and surveying the perimeter. I love the drawing table and the castle ruins. I just love exploring ruins!
Our older dog knows to keep off the raised beds. The new pup is very much an ungardener. I plant it, she fetches it.
How wonderfully inspiring!!
We’re finally done with school and over a small bout of illness… So bring on the out of doors!!!
Enjoy your summer break. We have a while to go before we break up, but looking forward to it.
Lovely post and the first picture is stunning! #countrykids
I wondered if I was including too much in that photo. Tea and embroidery just go together perfectly. 🙂